CURSED BLOOD

CALLUM’S POINT OF VIEW “You want me to marry your daughter?” I ask, unsure of the words I hear. The old man nods his head, pathetically, and I grit my teeth. “She is not my daughter, but my brother’s. He’s late, and so is her mother. Camilla is a hard-w**********l; she takes corrections and keeps her head down.” “Girl?” “No – No – She’s twenty-six, a ripe woman for marriage and mating.” I get up, bored out of my mind. “You deceived me. You said you had something for me, and yet you want something from me.” Nikolai and Landon get up too, and stand behind me, ready to strike at my command – having your closest friends as Commander of the Army and Commander of Resources comes in handy. “No – please, no, we need your help, your protection, things are happening, wolves are falling, we hear the rumors and we know dark days are coming, we need your protection, and I’ll give you my niece in return – a wife for your empire.” He falls to the ground, and I relish in his misery. “You will throw her to the wolves, that’s not an honorable thing to do.” Nikolai tsks. The decision has been made, we’re lea – the door opens softly, and a woman walks in with earphones on, oblivious to the eyes on her and the tension in the room. She’s holding a broom – who still uses a broom? She’s in a dress with holes in it, her red hair trailing behind her tall and beautiful frame and the mere sight of her makes something tug at my heart. I gesture to them to say nothing, and we watch her as she opens the windows, still oblivious, until she isn’t. “Fuck.” She gasps, hands over her mouth, her big brown eyes widen as she takes in the presence of her audience. “Camilla – Get out!” The old man snaps, and I see fear in her orbs. “I – I didn’t know – Rosaline said the room was empty.” She stammers, head down in embarrassment while walking out. We are a Pack of Werewolves, and they’re a smaller Pack – The Greyhound Pack. We are The Atlanta Pack, one of the biggest, the most fearsome, as well as Steel Inc. – a front for some of my business. A wolf recognizes a wolf, yet I felt nothing, smelt nothing with Camilla in the room, she has a distinct scent that I haven’t smelt in a long time. “She’s human,” Landon states, shaking his head in disappointment. “You’re a trickster, Finley Nightshade, offering me a Human. How dare you?” “Please, we need your help, your protection. We’ll be wiped out by the danger lurking in the woods, take Camilla, make her your wife, she’ll have your kids. Do with her as you please.” He begs, and I flex my hands. My eyes narrow into slits as I give him a hard, cold stare. “Get out!” I order and he immediately scrambles up and scurries out like a rat. __ “You want to marry her?” Landon asks, passing me a cigarette, and I say nothing. “He does or at the very least, he’s considering it, we’ll be on a flight back to Atlanta if he wasn’t. Why not wrap it up quickly?” Niko smiles, and I sigh. “Any news?” I ask instead, and they sober up pretty quickly. “Not yet.” We sit in silence and I consider my options – I’m long overdue for a wife, I do not believe in mates, never have but I believe in continuing my line as the only son. I never thought I’d be considering marrying a human though. They’ll eat her alive; she’s a deviant, and people fear what they don’t understand. We are seated in a makeshift royal space for us, and I watch as the people watch. I do wonder what they’ve heard about me. “Incoming.” Landon says, and I look ahead to see four people walking towards us – three women and a man. “Alpha Callum, I’m Brianna.” The brown-haired one says, and I glance away in annoyance. “Alpha Steel.” Landon corrects, in a hard tone and she nods in embarrassment, the pink shade spreading on her face. “I’m Rosalie Nightshade, this is my brother Jace Nightshade, my sister – Brianna, and my mother – Talia. We are delighted to have you in our home.” She says, and I nod. “Tell us about Camilla, Talia.” Nikolai sits up, and the older woman sneers. “She’s a little good-for-nothing w***e, a pretender, and a liar. It’s probably why the gods cursed her to be human despite her heritage. If you’re skeptical about her, I have two other daughters.” “I would rather choke on a knife,” I seethe. She chokes on air and I get up, walking off, while gesturing for Niko and Landon to stay seated as I’m capable of protecting myself. I walk around their little pack trying to catch a glimpse of the woman I might marry. It takes a couple of steps but I find her at the edge of the pack – surrounded by three men. I think they are having a conversation, but she seems scared as I walk closer. “I’ve never f****d a human before, I wonder how it’ll feel.” One says, and I see she’s at a well, dragging water out. I could swear that I saw different taps around. “Not today, Greg. I can’t do this, leave me alone.” She whimpers, her expression grim as she goes on dragging the water with all her might. The look of exhaustion on her face was intense so I think for sure, they could f*****g help her. “You don’t get to tease us, and just leave.” The next minutes are them sexually insulting her, making disgusting suggestions while she begs them to leave as she struggles with the well. It happens faster than I can blink, she slams the steel barrel on one’s head. The impact is deep and hard enough to draw blood. “You f*****g b***h!” He yells and tries to punch her, and I hold him back, they all look at me, and she pales. “Touch her, and you will draw your last breath.” I spit. He eyes me with a look of bewilderment before leaving in a hurry. “Pack your things, Camilla, we’re leaving.” She looks at me, with wide brown doe eyes, but I know she’s anything but submissive. She’s fire and she’s thunder and she’ll strike when need be, and I resolve immediately to keep her close. “Callum.” Nikolai and Landon call as they walk towards me with grave expressions. “There’s been another murder. It's one of our men, the sixth this month.”